As I stood nervously at my first client event after recently joining corporate America, I felt like I was in a sea of suits and grey hair. How is it that I planned this event and somehow feel like a fish out of water? This experience began to open my eyes to the challenges that I would inevitably face as a woman working in a male-dominated industry, and it gave me a small glimpse into the stressors that other women have felt for decades before me. Instead of getting frustrated by this, I decided to use it as an opportunity to foster the inner resilience that every woman has inside of them.
History of Women in the Workplace
Women began to enter the workforce in great numbers between the 1930s and 1970s. Although women were working much before this time period, the mid-20th century saw a major uptick in women’s education, an economic need for more labor, and the addition of protection laws in the workplace, such as the Pregnancy Discrimination Act in 1978 and the recognition of sexual harassment in the workplace. Although more women were able to work, societal standards still ruled their main priorities as being a wife and a mother.
As decades have evolved, the modern world has seen improvements in workplace protection laws, maternity leave, etc. Although women have come a long way in proving themselves, much work must be done to change how society views women in the workplace, the gender wage gap, and the lack of women in leadership positions.
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Imposter syndrome (also commonly termed impostor phenomenon, fraud syndrome, impostorism, and perceived fraudulence) was first described in 1978 by Suzanne Imes and Pauline Rose as an observation first among successful women and other marginalized groups. I like to describe this phenomenon simply as a feeling that one does not deserve something that they are clearly qualified to do/ be present for. Many women feel imposter syndrome in the workplace because they worry they don’t have the correct skills or experience to do the job at hand. This can a source of real anxiety, especially for women in male-dominated fields.
When looking into the innate differences between women and men, researchers found that personality traits, in fact, do differ between genders. In a study that was conducted to better understand this topic, researchers found that for every one of the 10 aspects of personality traits that they looked at—women scored higher, on average, on enthusiasm, compassion, politeness, orderliness, volatility, withdrawal, and openness, while men scored higher on assertiveness, industriousness and intellect.
Although women and men differ in personality tendencies, this does not mean that men are not capable of being more compassionate or that women can’t be assertive. And it does not necessarily mean that traditionally “male” traits are more suitable for the workplace than those traits associated more with women. Being assertive, competitive, and industrious can help one to be successful, but so can being emotionally intelligent, compassionate, and enthusiastic.
As women, leaning into our femininity can be used to our advantage. That being said, it is also possible to be both assertive and nurturing, compassionate and decisive, etc. As humans, male or female, we have the ability to hone in on the skills that we feel are important for us to be successful, not only in the workplace but, more importantly, in life.
Everything Comes from Within
Every person has what they need to succeed. What lies within us can sometimes be difficult to find, but it is only in challenging situations that we are able to do the work and uncover what we really need. So, looking back on my first experiences in Corporate America, I felt empowered to know that although overwhelming, environments such as these can cultivate boundless confidence if navigated correctly. The hardest challenges reap the best rewards.
Alison Gentile is a 23 year old who lives in Boston. She works in commercial real estate and graduated from Providence College in 2023. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and going to the beach. Alison has always loved to write, but is just beginning to share it in hopes to help others, even if it is in a small way!